Taper Madness you say?

Maybe it’s just me, but I have a confession to make. All the time I read posts about people experiencing ‘taper madness’, where the miles in the training session start to dwindle and race day approaches. Now, I’m running Long Beach and that is roughly less than two weeks away. I’ve done my training round for Long Beach and put in my miles and believe me, I LOVE running, but when it gets to taper time, I’m just so tuckered out that this resting and the cutback of miles is a welcoming thing for me.

Seriously, I see so many people talking about how much they miss running and can’t wait to run again. I also think that I am built more for speed and not so much distance, so the shorter runs are much more enjoyable to me, than the long, high mileage weeks. When I do a higher mileage week, which I’ve never even done that many miles in a week, I’m SO tired by the end of the week all I can do is sleep. So about this taper, losing your mind, horrible feelings? Yea, I don’t get that. Maybe it’s just me but extra sleeping? Yes, please. Extra time for more activities, including my social life? Yes, please. Not being sore when you walk? Yes, please. Not having to wake up at 5:00 am to run 10 miles before work and being exhausted the rest of the day? Yes, please. Not being famished all the time and scavenging for food like a rodent? Yes, please. I mean, these are all win situations for myself. So maybe I am just made to taper.

On that wonderful note, I got up early today, a once a month thing, and went for a five miler. It’s still pretty humid out, but thankfully the sun wasn’t out just yet, since it’s dark and I just ran the regular beach path.

This is what it looked like when I left for my run. Yup, I told you it’s still dark out. It’s weird running in the dark, but then if you get it at just the right time, you can catch it when the sky starts to glow and almost turn pink before the sun comes up. That’s my favorite part of the mornings, if mornings can ever be a good thing.

By the time I was finishing up though, it was getting light out. As you can tell, this is called the “marine layer”. It’s the clouds that cover the beach areas every morning. It’s funny because at DJ and I’s house, it’s ALWAYS mostly cloudy, except in July and August, because of the marine layer. I can drive literally like 3 miles inland, and it’s bright and sunny out. It always makes me laugh on my way to work, because I am like where are you sun, at my house?! But I guess that’s what you get when you live a couple hundred feet from the beach.

Tomorrow is a rest day but I’m considering going to the gym. I am really trying to get back into the habit of doing a little core work because I know it will strengthen my back muscles as well. Last night I did 50 sit ups and 15 push ups. It doesn’t seem like a lot but I’m going to try to do 50 in the morning and 50 in the evening and then 15 push ups in the morning and evening as well. I just can’t bust out a lot though, because knowing me, I’ll do a billion one night, get sore, and then never do them again. Soon I’ll be back up to doing them more regularly though, which I think will then allow me to do more. If I get crazy I’ll even maybe do some planks!

Okay, I’m off to go relax and enjoy my taper, well I mean go to work, but at least I’m not exhausted already at 7:30 am! :) I LOVE TAPER!

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31 Comments

I LOVE TAPER TOO!!!!! Taper= the best part about marathon training if you ask me! I agree with you! I’m uber uber jealous of your amazing beach path thats a few feet from your house… oh how i would love to run on that! :) Have a great day and enjoy your TAPER! :) :) :)

I feel as if this is targeted at me for putting up my Tunnel Vision post yesterday! LOL! J/K My taper madness is more about the getting to Chicago details more than running. I am excited to get a break from all the miles and rest up… it will be wonderful to not walk around always having some form of twinge that just marginally is painful 24/7. I can’t believe our marathons are almost here!!!!

I love the tamper simply because I don’t have a long run during the taper. For some reason, I love running up to 6 miles and could do it everyday. It’s those darn long runs that zap all my running mojo. Maybe someone should sell “long run” medals and portable finish lines to make the long run more fun.

Is Long Beach on the 11th? That is the day I’m running Chicago (my first full!). I am so thankful and relieved for the taper because my IT band has been killing me lately. I completely feel you on the need for sleep when doing long runs.

Well this is going to sound ridic but your talk of the marine layer made me miss Cali! Except I experienced reverse marine layer because we would drive from campus to the beach to do our runs. It would be sunny when we left home and cloudy for the run. Perfecto!

I like taper too! I’m not one of those crazy folks who goes all bat sh$t crazy, I relish my extra free time and sleep, hehe.

I’m excited to hear more about Long Beach. I really think maybe in 2010 I’ll be up for the half mary there. That beach path looks amazing. I heart the ocean (despite my recent post about the mountains and the forest).

Heck I wish I had a bigger taper for my half marathon. I really feel like I could use a break. I have been building mileage since May (with cutbacks of course), but jeez sometimes I wish I could just have a 15 mile week.
Glad you are getting some rest for the race, enjoy!

I think “taper madness” is an appropriate term – because I find this whole experience to be a bit crazy. This is my first marathon training year. I am at the end of week two of the taper. I am both tired and at the same time – ready to burst with energy. I do and don’t want to run. And the dreams I have been having – wow!

Good luck at Long Beach & Thanks for sharing and giving us tapering runners something to read :)

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